Chapter 189: Chapter 188: Together, a Pile of...

Outside Cangwu City.

At the wanted posters.

"Give this to your superiors. Tell them it’s time for a new wanted list."

After traveling for a day and a night, Wu Chen, having returned to Cangwu City from Qingfeng Manor, tossed a storage pouch from his waist to Li Qi, a guard from the Demon Suppression Bureau still on duty beneath the wanted list.

The storage pouch contained the heads of the wanted criminals Wu Chen had slain on his trip to Qingfeng Manor.

’I can’t say I killed every villain on the list, but I got the vast majority. Exchanging them for two Blood Coagulation Realm Martial Arts manuals shouldn’t be a problem.’

"Gasp... This..."

Li Qi fumbled with the storage pouch, checking its contents over and over. It felt like something was caught in his throat; he stammered for a long while, completely at a loss for words.

’These villains, who’ve been on the wanted list for who knows how long, are just... dead?’

’The very same villains who’ve been a massive headache for the Captains of the Demon Suppression Bureau are just... dead?’

But most importantly...

Li Qi looked up at the young man on the tall horse before him, his pupils trembling.

’He’s only been in Cangwu City for a few days!’

’In ten days, at most, he not only tracked these villains down but also killed them!’

’Could he have an organization backing him with an even better intelligence network than the Demon Suppression Bureau?’

"There’s a Qingfeng Manor three hundred li east of the city. Word got out that its old master was attempting a life-or-death breakthrough in seclusion, so the manor was besieged by several thousand villains."

Wu Chen explained with a smile:

"So I figured the villains on the wanted list wouldn’t just be sitting around; they’d definitely rush over to get in on the action."

"So, I went to guard the manor for a few days, earned some silver coins, and killed these people while I was at it."

He said it so casually, but the more Li Qi listened, the wider his eyes grew.

’A manor besieged by thousands of villains! And you went there to stand guard!’

’That was just courting death.’

But the storage pouch in his hands, filled with the heads of villains, was telling Li Qi a very different story about who was really courting death!

What’s more, the Demon Suppression Bureau was well aware that villains from all corners of the land were besieging Qingfeng Manor. Li Qi himself had heard of it.

Everyone in the Demon Suppression Bureau was certain that some of the wanted men would attend the so-called "Heroes’ Gathering" to get a piece of the action during the siege of Qingfeng Manor.

But no Captain dared to get involved.

After all, if these villains were a pain in the ass when scattered, they were a giant clusterfuck when united. They weren’t easy to deal with. It was the kind of trouble that stuck to you, and if you weren’t careful, you could get dragged down with them.

As for the Golden Eagle Captains and Cloud Pattern Captains, who actually had the strength to intervene, let’s not even mention that they were too tied up with important matters to get away.

And even if they were free, they looked down on such a meager reward.

Li Qi rubbed his stiff face, forcing himself to recover his composure. Knowing he couldn’t delay Wu Chen any longer, he asked:

"Young Master Wu, would you like to exchange these heads for silver coins, medicinal pills, or Martial Arts?"

"Martial Arts will be fine. Just get me as many manuals as the heads are worth."

"For which realm?"

"For today, I’ll take the Blood Coagulation Realm Martial Arts."

’What does he mean, "for today"...?’

’Is he planning to trade for Leakless Realm Martial Arts tomorrow?’

’And where would he find that many more villains’ heads to exchange!’

Li Qi complained internally about Wu Chen’s response, finding his words almost comical. But he didn’t press the issue, as it would have been impolite.

He just assumed Wu Chen had some unknown power backing him, and that these Martial Arts were being exchanged for that power. That would explain why Wu Chen needed several Blood Coagulation Realm manuals, when others only needed one.

"If I may ask, Young Master Wu, which inn in Cangwu City are you staying at? Why don’t you return and rest for a while? I can just deliver the Martial Arts manuals to you later."

Counting the villains’ heads and retrieving the Martial Arts manuals would take some time, which was why Li Qi had made the offer.

"Hmm..."

After a moment’s thought, Wu Chen swung himself off his horse. "I’ll go to the Demon Suppression Bureau with you."

"Go with me to the Demon Suppression Bureau?" Li Qi asked, confused. "What for?"

"I’m interested in that Auxiliary Guard position you mentioned last time. I’m going to apply."

"???"

Li Qi’s eyes filled with confusion.

’You’ve already killed all the villains, so why become an Auxiliary Guard now!’

’What is he playing at?!’

"Stop dawdling. Lead the way."

Wu Chen was already leading his horse toward Cangwu City, calling out to urge on Li Qi, who still hadn’t fully grasped the situation.

Joining the Demon Suppression Bureau as an Auxiliary Guard was the first step of his plan.

Next, Wu Chen intended to join the two factions of hired blades in the city.

The reason was simple: the Demon Suppression Bureau, the hired blades—all of these powers had their own information networks.

And what Wu Chen needed most right now was the latest news from the martial world.

Therefore, he would co-opt these information-gathering powers for his own use.

At Wu Chen’s urging, Li Qi finally snapped back to reality and hurried to lead the way.

One following the other, they headed toward the Demon Suppression Bureau’s location in the city.

After walking for a while, they entered the district where the Demon Suppression Bureau was located, and the number of pedestrians on the street thinned out considerably.

Not only that, but Wu Chen could feel numerous gazes, both overt and hidden, sweeping over him.

He knew he had entered the Demon Suppression Bureau’s territory.

After walking a bit further, a complex of pavilions and buildings surrounded by towering red walls came into view.

Outside the walls, several teams of Captains patrolled back and forth, the shoulders of their uniforms embroidered with ferocious wolf heads.

The two arrived at the main gate of the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Li Qi explained to the Captain on duty why he had brought Wu Chen, then handed over the storage pouch for inspection. After a look, the guard Captain stared at them, dumbfounded, as the pair walked straight into the Demon Suppression Bureau without any obstruction.

First, the villains’ heads were tallied. Then, it was off to the Demon Suppression Bureau’s Arsenal to exchange for Martial Arts.

"Two Blood Coagulation Realm Martial Arts manuals?"

The keeper of the Demon Suppression Bureau’s Arsenal looked at Wu Chen, slightly surprised.

"One Blood Coagulation Realm manual should be enough. Wouldn’t you be better off exchanging the rest for pills to consolidate your foundation?"

"Thank you for the advice, Captain, but I don’t need the pills."

Wu Chen said politely, "The other Martial Arts manual is for someone else."

He casually threw out an excuse, not caring whether the man believed him or not.

He used to have all sorts of worries when exchanging for Martial Arts, but as his realm skyrocketed day by day, those concerns had vanished.

For example, say the keeper handed over two Blood Coagulation Realm manuals now, then tried to investigate why he needed both.

It would only take a single day.

And then the man would find himself facing a genuine Leakless Realm expert.

This rate of improvement gave Wu Chen the confidence to casually make up an excuse in the Demon Suppression Bureau and ask for two Blood Coagulation Realm manuals at once.

Seeing Wu Chen’s firm resolve, the Captain said no more. He retrieved two copied volumes of Blood Coagulation Realm Martial Arts, handed them to Wu Chen, and deducted the Contribution Points.

With the two Blood Coagulation Realm manuals in hand, Wu Chen followed Li Qi to the department in the Demon Suppression Bureau responsible for enlistment.

With an acquaintance like Li Qi to vouch for him, the process was simple. After his name and realm were recorded and his Blood Coagulation Realm cultivation was confirmed, Wu Chen was issued a waist token for a Demon Suppression Bureau Auxiliary Guard.

’So there’s a precedent for Blood Coagulation Realm cultivators serving as Auxiliary Guards, then?’

Wu Chen thought to himself, holding the cast-iron Auxiliary Guard waist token in his hand.

After all, during his enlistment just now, the Captain had been surprised for only a moment upon hearing he was at the Blood Coagulation Realm, but hadn’t asked any further questions. He figured it must be common for Blood Coagulation Realm cultivators to take up jobs as Auxiliary Guards in the Demon Suppression Bureau.

That would explain why no one thought it was strange.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.